Deputy PM Leaves Tomorrow for Four-Day Visit to Canada

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Dr. Kenneth Baugh, leaves the island tomorrow (March 22) for an official visit to Canada from March 23 to 26.
“The visit affords a useful opportunity to continue the process of building relations with Canada, a country with which we enjoy close and mutually beneficial ties at the bilateral, regional, hemispheric and internal levels,” Dr. Baugh stated.
While in Canada, he will meet with Prime Minister, Stephen Harper and other Government officials including, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lawrence Cannon; Minister of State, Peter Kent; and Minister for International Development Co-operation, Beverley Oda.
Some of the topics to be discussed over the four days will include: the global financial crisis and Jamaica’s development challenges in the context of the crisis; relations between CARICOM/Canada including the upcoming Summit; climate change; national security concerns; agriculture and food security.
Jamaica and Canada pursue co-operation programmes in a number of areas, including the provision of seasonal employment for agricultural workers and assistance to the Jamaica Defence Force. Jamaica also benefits from development assistance from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
While overseas, Minister Baugh will address and dialogue with members of the Jamaican community in the cities of Ottawa and Toronto.